Although the beginning of the modern fine press movement is usually dated to the founding of the Kelmscott Press by William Morris in 1890-1891, there were a number of precursors.

Early private presses that followed many of the practices of the fine press movement that would be fully implemented by Morris – relatively high standards of skill and materials, low print runs, lack of commercial motivation – include the Horace Walpole's Strawberry Hill Press (established 1757), Egerton Brydges' Lee Priory Press (established 1813), Thomas Phillips' Middle Hill Press (established 1822), and Henry Daniel's Daniel Press (established c. 1850).